Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders

History

Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders has become the largest grass roots outreach eating disorder organization in Texas. Dawn and Vic Montaner established the foundation, Texas parents, whose daughter has had treatment for eating disorders.

Dawn and Vic tell their story 

We have six children, eight granddaughters, two grandsons, two dogs and a cat. In 1999, Dawn was an apartment manager with nothing more to worry about than renting apartments, what to cook for dinner, and planning a graduation celebration for our youngest daughter, Amanda. Or so we thought.

The beginning

In December 1998, our youngest daughter was rapidly losing weight. We attributed the weight loss to her working, being a senior in high school, and the normal running around that l teenagers typically do. But a month later, we discovered that our daughter was in the throes of a full-blown eating disorders, bulimia.

Initial reactions

We were blindsided by this disease. We knew nothing about this eating disorders, bulimia, and were desperate to find professional help for her as soon as possible. In the blink of an eye, we were fighting to save our daughter's life. We didn't know anyone who had an eating disorder; we didn't even know what an eating disorder was. All that changed quickly!

Finding treatment

Finding treatment for an eating disorder is not as simple as looking up someone in the phone book and not everyone that says they treat eating disorders is a specialist. Due to the lack of knowledge about eating disorders we were at the mercy of the only professional that was willing to treat our daughter locally. After two sessions, that specialist prescribed sleeping pills to cut down on the binging and purging.  Within two months of her diagnosis it was decided that she needed acute care and prescribed inpatient residential therapy.  What was that?

The nightmare got worse as we began the process to locate a “residential treatment facility”.  Trying to find a facility for treatment is when the nightmare grew worse. We soon discovered there were no long-term, in-patient, acute care, and residential treatment facility in Texas specializing in eating disorders. We found a facility in Wickenburg, Arizona, but after being denied admittance three times, we discovered that our insurance does not cover eating disorders.  Treatment in an acute care facility generally ranges from $1500 to $2500 a day with a minimum 45-60 day stay.  After fighting with the insurance company we were able to get a treatment facility to accept what the insurance was finally willing to pay.  Today we work with families and the Texas Attorney General’s office to force insurance companies to cover eating disorders with the same parity as any physical illness.

A recovery in progress

Our daughter had to return to treatment a second time.  She has been in recovery for over five years and is an example of how commitment to recovery, dedication to treatment and the heartfelt desire to not let this disease rule or destroy her life.  Our daughter has offered her insights, her expertise and her hope to other people suffering from this disease.  She is also a light of encouragement to families facing in-patient treatment and can offer hope and support in their journey.

Initiating change

Our experiences convinced us that we have a responsibility to change things in our community, in our state, and in our nation.  Families are forced to spend so much money to save their child’s life, we must realize that the aftercare is as important as the initial residential care.  After the in patient treatment, we get our loved one back, back to the “normal” routine of living, only nothing is “normal” for them yet.  The aftercare plan must include all the people that will deal with our loved one, to make sure that the initial treatment is not in vain.

Educational Materials

Lifelines Foundation collaborated with eating disorder professionals and designed educational materials.  The materials consist of a poster 16”x 24” that can be placed in the school counselors or the school nurses office.  This poster is an invitation to come forward for either the person suffering or a friend.  Often the poster is also hung in the girls and boy’s locker rooms, coaches are usually one of the first educational professionals to notice a student exhibiting a behavior.  There is also two-sided handout with signs and symptoms, and a “what if” section on the back. We developed a series of three booklets, one is titled “For Those that Suffer”; the second one is “For Friends and Family”; and the third is “For Professionals”. These supplies are available free of charge to any school, family or church requesting information.  These educational materials are also available for viewing on our web site.  Lifelines also continues to travel to present our educational seminars to students, facility and parents all over Texas.  We also have a sample of our classroom presentations available for review on our website, for professionals that would like to view the presentation before booking a workshop.  Our fee schedule is available on our website. These educational materials are a one of a kind product!  No other organizations, treatment facilities or educational organization has any product similar to this material.

Learn more

Lifelines Foundation is dedicated to promoting education, awareness, and prevention of eating disorders throughout Texas and the nation.  Our web site offers helpful resources, and if you are in need of referral resources, therapists, dietitians, or physicians please feel free to contact us at (254) 420-3947.